Cover: An Analysis of the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) System
Read Online

An Analysis of the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) System

by Jeffrey Wasserman, Jeanne S. Ringel, Barbara O. Wynn, Jack Zwanziger, Karen A. Ricci, Sydne J. Newberry, Barbara Genovese, Michael Schoenbaum

Download

Download eBook for Free

FormatFile SizeNotes
PDF file 5.4 MB

Use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 10 or higher for the best experience.

Purchase

Purchase Print Copy

 FormatList Price Price
Add to Cart Paperback120 pages $18.00 $14.40 20% Web Discount

Since April 1997, the Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) System has served as the basis for allocating the congressionally appropriated medical care budget of the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) to its regional networks. Concerned that the VERA system may not allocate resources in a manner consistent with its mission, Congress requested a study of the system and how allocations are affected by a number of factors, including infrastructure age, extreme weather conditions, and participation in medical education. This report describes the results of RAND's initial analysis. Because of the project's short time frame, only qualitative analysis was performed. Among the findings were that health care delivery costs may be affected by the age, physical condition, and historical significance of a VISN's capital infrastructure, factors for which VERA does not currently adjust. An additional finding was that VERA's current case-mix adjustment may not adequately account for differences in the average health status of veterans across networks. The influence on costs and access to care of factors such as weather extremes was less clear. In spite of its possible shortcomings, VERA appeared to be designed to meet its objectives more closely than did previous VA budget allocation systems. A plan was presented for further quantitative analysis of a number of critical issues that emerged from the current study.

Table of Contents

  • Chapter One

    Introduction

  • Chapter Two

    Data Sources and Methods

  • Chapter Three

    The Impact of Selected Patient and VISN Characteristics on Care Under VERA

  • Chapter Four

    The Costs of Academic Affiliations Under VERA

  • Chapter Five

    VERA and Weather-Related Costs

  • Chapter Six

    Analysis Plan for Evaluating Potential VERA Modifications

  • Chapter Seven

    Conclusions

  • Appendix A

    Key Formulas and Data in the FY 2001 VERA

  • Appendix B

    Guide for RAND VERA Site Visits - Networks

  • Appendix C

    Guide for RAND VERA Site Visits - Facilities

  • Appendix D

    VERA Eligibility Categories and Priority Groups

Research conducted by

The research described in this report was performed under the auspices of RAND's National Security Research Division.

This report is part of the RAND Corporation Monograph report series. The monograph/report was a product of the RAND Corporation from 1993 to 2003. RAND monograph/reports presented major research findings that addressed the challenges facing the public and private sectors. They included executive summaries, technical documentation, and synthesis pieces.

This document and trademark(s) contained herein are protected by law. This representation of RAND intellectual property is provided for noncommercial use only. Unauthorized posting of this publication online is prohibited; linking directly to this product page is encouraged. Permission is required from RAND to reproduce, or reuse in another form, any of its research documents for commercial purposes. For information on reprint and reuse permissions, please visit www.rand.org/pubs/permissions.

The RAND Corporation is a nonprofit institution that helps improve policy and decisionmaking through research and analysis. RAND's publications do not necessarily reflect the opinions of its research clients and sponsors.